POWDER ALERT: UT, CO, Northern Cascades + Coastal BC

A cold front is working it’s way down over the northern Rockies tonight with a persistent fetch of moisture streaming in from the Northwest. Those ingredients will push significant snowfall into Utah slightly weakening before Colorado gets a much needed dump late Saturday/Sunday. Even New Mexico may hit double digits by late Sunday! There is little to complain about!

Short Term Forecast:

I chased to Mt Baker this morning where 5 inches that fell overnight turned quickly to 9-10 inches for opening chairs at the summits. While the parking lots had little evidence of the goods, the upper elevations were nearly bottomless with right side up snow. I elected to stay in The Cascades for continued moderate snow that will fall tonight in the north (Light or moderate southern zones). British Columbia may get VERY DEEP by Sunday (2 feet or more). In the NW your best dumps will be tonight and again Sunday/Monday. Consider Stevens or Mt Baker tonight and perhaps jump across the border to Whistler Blackcomb for Sunday goods.

If your in The Rockies chase to The Wasatch on Saturday followed by Colorado on Sunday. In Utah, heavy snow will continue tonight into most of Saturday. In Colorado most snow will fall late afternoon Saturday through Sunday (2 State chase). My original forecast for up to 5-10″ near Wolf Creek holds to the forecast with higher amounts likely near Purgatory, Silverton, and Telluride. Significant moisture will be falling by late Saturday night in these areas.

Wind shifts will ultimate allow every ski resort in Colorado and Utah to report new snow by late Sunday. Wind shifts also pose a difficult forecast in nailing amounts but I suspect plenty of double digits by late Sunday.

The Chase?

In The Cascades like the prospects of Baker in the NW, Perhaps Stevens Pass, by mid morning Saturday. Crystal attempts to catch up but falls short late Saturday (Snowing during the day). Another decent round of snow is likely on Sunday for most of the Cascades.

In The Rockies the Park City mountains will score 8-12 inches Saturday (upper elevations) while spots near Logan follow suit. Heavy snow is already falling in the northern areas quickly working south into the Salt Lake Valley at press time. In the northern Wasatch consider Powder Mountain (Favorable NW wind direction) where 7-14 inches will fall. Little Cottonwood (Alta-Bird) will slightly take the lead over Big Cottonwood (Solitude-Brighton) by late Saturday night. Expect 11-17 inches in the Cottonwoods by Sunday morning (Most snow falls late tonight through Saturday mid afternoon with snow showers continuing overnight into Sunday).

If you’re in Colorado, my picks are Steamboat (10-15), Purgatory, Silverton and Telluride. Telluride is a bit of a wildcard with SW winds and west winds not optimal but still a good contender. Watch the snow cams before making the choice to go up Dallas Divide or continue south towards Silverton or Purgatory. Gunnison Valley (Models show 5-9 inches that hopefully pushes into CB with favorable west winds).

Areas to the west like Powderhorn and up through Rifle (No ski areas) could get deep. Moisture is clearly gong to increase over I-70 with a West, NW wind direction late Saturday night or Sunday morning. Heavy snow will be falling along the corridor Sunday morning with Vail and Beaver Creek in the 7-10 inch range by late PM. Breckenridge also scores on west and NW winds and may get a respectable dump (7-14).

Winds shift to the North late Sunday morning or early PM creating decent snowfall near the front range of Denver. Berthoud Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park, Winter Park, and perhaps Loveland Ski are score respectable amounts late AM Sunday through early Monday. Ride last chair Sunday for the deepest snow in those areas. Ride 1st chair in the San Juans Sunday or areas west through Crested Butte, Aspen, Beaver Creek and Vail. Snow will continue through the day Sunday before diminishing overnight. The Front Range from Boulder to Fort Collins will see a decent event by late Sunday night with the northerly winds (5-11).

Hello New Mexico! Areas from the Colorado border through Taos could pick up 4-9 inches on Sunday. I am pretty confident that most northern NM resorts will be finally getting some snowfall this weekend.

Powder map- Total snow in the west through late Monday | Image: WX Bell

– Powderchaser Steve says Enjoy the POW!

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